Eli Lake On Israel And The Iran War

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Mar 13, 2026

Eli Lake, an investigative journalist and national security reporter who writes on Israel and foreign policy. He traces his Zionist formation, debates Israel’s nuclear ambiguity and US-Israel ties. He discusses shifts in Israeli politics, the Iran nuclear deal, regional security threats and the changing reasons and risks of war with Iran.

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ANECDOTE

Labor Zionist Summer Camp Shaped Early Views

Eli Lake describes attending Camp Galil, a labor-Zionist sleepaway camp that emphasized kibbutz values and collectivism.
He recalls shared “coupa” care packages, Hebrew-derived bunk names, and political indoctrination against capitalism in Stock Market Day activities.

ANECDOTE

Bar Mitzvah Talk On Non Proliferation

Eli recounts giving a bar mitzvah talk at 13 on Jewish perspectives on nuclear non-proliferation during the Reagan era.
The talk reflected his left-wing upbringing and fear of nuclear war after high Cold War tensions.

INSIGHT

Cold War Collapse Shifted Political Outlook

Eli says the collapse of the Soviet Union and living through ideological conflict shifted him from leftism toward a more security-focused view.
Personal memory of the Cold War era and seeing socialism's failures changed his perspective in the 1990s.

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.com

Eli is a journalist and an old friend. He’s a former senior national security correspondent for The Daily Beast and Newsweek, and a former columnist for the Bloomberg View. He’s now a reporter for The Free Press, a contributing editor at Commentary Magazine, and the host of his own podcast, Breaking History. He’s one of the most dogged defenders of Israel in America. Who better to slug it out with?

For two clips of our convo — on the double standard of US aid to Israel and NATO, and escalation of settlements in the West Bank — head to our YouTube page.

Other topics: Eli’s speech at his bar mitzvah on Jewish views of nuclear proliferation; his Zionist sleepaway camp; the Iran-Contra affair; the Oslo Accords; the Second Intifada; Saddam and WMDs; mugged by the reality of the Iraq War; the rise of Hamas in Gaza; the Obama-Netanyahu feud; the Iran nuclear deal; Schumer’s commitment to Israel; the Golden Dome; Israel’s contributions to the US; the horrors of October 7; the Judeo-fascists in Bibi’s cabinet; US bombs sent to the IDF for Gaza; the 12-Day War that “obliterated” Iran’s nuke facilities; the mass slaughter of protesters in Iran; the shifting reasons for the current war; the lack of any public debate or Congressional approval; the farce of Hegseth; Witkoff and Kushner’s “negotiations” with Iran; international law; assassinating the leadership in Iran; Lindsey Graham’s fanaticism; Tucker Carlson; the dead schoolgirls; oil prices; and evangelical support for Israel.

Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy. Coming up: Matt Goodwin on the political earthquake in the UK, Jeffrey Toobin on the pardon power, Derek Thompson on abundance, Jonah Goldberg on the state of conservatism, Tom Holland on the Christian roots of liberalism, Tiffany Jenkins on privacy in a liberal democracy, and Adrian Wooldridge on “the lost genius of liberalism.” As always, please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.